Happy Valentine's Day! Puppydog and I are spending Valentine's together since Bryan is working hard at in Chicago this week. So our loving food coma will have to wait for a week. Speaking of food comas.
Thanks to the wedding I'm supposed to be on a "diet" or "lifestyle change" or whatever hippie, organic, "I want to be healthy but secretly hoping my butt looks better," kind of mission. However, I haven't been to the gym in about two weeks. The thing is I pay for a membership so I can do cardio in a safe and reliable environment, and have an effective work out. But let's be honest, I don't even want to go outside in the middle of Winter, let alone work out.
The problem is I have a make-shift gym at home now, courtesy of Bryan. We have a punching bag, a TV with a DVD player, work out videos, weights and resistance bands. I can work out in the comfort of my own home (aka garage) and put the equipment to work. So basically if I continue to neglect the conventional gym, I'm paying $10 a month for potential access to an elliptical and treadmill. I'm wondering if I should just give up on the gym and stick to the home gym.
Don't get me wrong, I still work out. I kick box and do aerobics and as shameless as it seems, I consider my job my strength training.
My new "diet" philosophy is work out everyday and drink everyday. Believe it or not, a glass of wine at night isn't terrible for you. Mind you I can only handle about two glasses a day, but I'd like to think that only helps my case. I eat breakfast, work out, make lunch, eat at work, come home to a glass of wine and a snack and sleep like a rock. As far as I'm concerned, it's the only way to live. Work hard, play hard. The wine might hurt me more than I'd like to admit, but progress without happiness is not really progress.
After all, let's be serious. I'm not giving up wine. My man is an amateur vintner. Let's not kid ourselves. Priorities people, priorities.
-Akemi-chan
Friday, February 14, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Sausage, Kale and Cannellini Soup
I know I've made something similar to this soup before. But really, I could do without bacon thanks to this wedding diet. So I present to you the "Best I Could Do While Trapped in this Winter Storm" Soup.
Sausage, Kale and Cannellini Bean Soup
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb Italian ground sausage
3 cloves of garlic, smashed
1/2 onion, diced
1.5 cartons low sodium chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes, I used Italian style
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups kale leaves, destemmed and torn into bite sized pieces
grated paremsean cheese (optional)
red pepper flake (optional)
In a large pot heat olive oil to medium heat. Add sausage and cook until brown. Remove sausage and leave fat in pot. Add onion, garlic, salt and pepper and saute until onions are soft.
Deglaze pan with chicken broth and scrape up any brown bits or sausage remains on the bottom of the pot. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil. once boiling, bring to a simmer and add beans. Simmer for 10 minutes and add torn kale leaves. Simmer for another 5 minutes and serve hot. Add cheese and red pepper flake is desired.
I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing about the "Winter Vortex" and probably even more tired of me complaining about it. But I am sooooooo over Winter, and we still have about a month to go. Soup helps, and so does wine, but in the end all I need is sunshine. I don't even need a beach, just let that beautiful sun shine out from behind those clouds and I'll be infinitely happier. Someday we'll see the sun again, someday.
-Akemi-chan
Sausage, Kale and Cannellini Bean Soup
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb Italian ground sausage
3 cloves of garlic, smashed
1/2 onion, diced
1.5 cartons low sodium chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes, I used Italian style
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups kale leaves, destemmed and torn into bite sized pieces
grated paremsean cheese (optional)
red pepper flake (optional)
In a large pot heat olive oil to medium heat. Add sausage and cook until brown. Remove sausage and leave fat in pot. Add onion, garlic, salt and pepper and saute until onions are soft.
Deglaze pan with chicken broth and scrape up any brown bits or sausage remains on the bottom of the pot. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil. once boiling, bring to a simmer and add beans. Simmer for 10 minutes and add torn kale leaves. Simmer for another 5 minutes and serve hot. Add cheese and red pepper flake is desired.
Soup before cheese and pepper
I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing about the "Winter Vortex" and probably even more tired of me complaining about it. But I am sooooooo over Winter, and we still have about a month to go. Soup helps, and so does wine, but in the end all I need is sunshine. I don't even need a beach, just let that beautiful sun shine out from behind those clouds and I'll be infinitely happier. Someday we'll see the sun again, someday.
-Akemi-chan
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Wintery ThursDate: Sweet Indulgence, Escobar's & Radio Maria
When Champaign-Urban announced their 4th annual Restaurant Week I was skeptical. For a town where a lot people consider Longhorn Steakhouse's New York Strip and fried onion to be the culinary experience of their lifetime, I had given up on any lofty foodie aspirations. However, there are some good restaurants in the area and I am a willing patron of those facilities. Anyway, I had heard about special menus and discounted prices and thought, why not?
But I must preface this with the first locale was as crazy random happenstance and was not on the CU Restaurant Week roster. First stop: Sweet Indulgence.
I had never heard of this place. I live on the other side of town and hardly ever venture past a 2 miles radius of my home, with the exception of work. Bryan and I wanted a small bite before dinner and just drove past a strip mall with a small little bakery. When the sign makes you laugh, you have to go in and at least take a look.
The shop was littered with little confections that instantly gave me a toothache. Cupcakes the size of softballs, cookies, tarts, cakes, and of course a barista to help you wash down your sweets with a kick of caffeine.
"Love at First Sight" cupcake. Marble cake with chocolate ganache, buttercream and cherry pie filling
Mini coconut cream pie
Pomegranate Italian soda, amazing
On our way back home, I noticed a swarm of geese flying to a pond on the side of a road. Hopped up on Italian soda and chocolate, I convinced Bryan to pull over to seek out the geese. Turns out, they were some of hundreds of geese that gathered on a frozen pond in the middle of Champaign. I ran to the body of water and seized a rare opportunity for a Hawaii born girl and walked onto the solid water. Amongst the distant honking from what seemed like 400 geese, Bryan and I soaked in the last bits of sunlight and watched the sunset on a frozen pond.
Walking on a frozen pond
Hanging out with geese
Terrified on ice
Frozen
Bryan and I have been meaning to visit Escobar's for a long time, but couldn't make it work until now. With Restaurant Week and wedding planning in full swing, there was no better time to go out and relax.
Duck taquitos with guacamole and simple salad
Roasted duck breast with pureed ginger sweet potatoes, grilled pear, fried plantains and mixed veggies
Grilled steak with chimichurri sauce, chorizo rice and mixed veggies
I saw something on No Resevrations when Tony Bourdain went to Brazil. They mentioned something called a caipirinhia. "What the heck is that?" I thought to myself. Fast forward several months and we found ourselves at Radio Maria for drinks thanks to their $5 caipirinhia special. Imagine a gimlet with rum or a mojito with tons of lime and no mint. That's the sweet spot that we found ourselves in tonight. Just in case I ordered a house infused raspberry vodka cosmo, since rum can have disastrous effects on my health and well being.
Caipirinhia and raspberry cosmo
Not bad for a Thursday. So while I sit in the cold waiting for Spring to come, at least I can say that I've had a few Winter experiences that will stay with me forever.
-Akemi-chan
Friday, January 31, 2014
January Randoms
January has been a hectic month. With negative 40 degree wind chills, airport closings, delayed and cancelled flights. It seems contacting wedding vendors was the least of our worries. Here are some random pictures from this month. Don't you already feel cold?
Snow dog
Friends
Tiny dog at work
1 <3 Flat Top Grill
Drinking tea, watching Sherlock season 3
Simple fancy dinner
J Gumbo's "Everything" gumbo
All the kale
Bruised from work
Addicted
Cats like Game of Thrones too, right?
Coffee break
Mediterranean Shrimp and Couscous salad at Panera
So cold, the bottle broke
Snowed in for Rose Bowl
Tea time
Chin time
Almond milk hot cocoa
Celebrating at work
#truth
I wish the weather would ease up on us, but one day it's raining and the next it's snowing. Then it's black ice and 40 mph winds and fog. This Winter has only helped me realize me one thing...
-Akemi-chan
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Late New Year's Resolution
As terrible as it sounds, I occasionally base my life off of TV shows. I compare myself to TV show scenarios more than magazines or Victoria Secret models. So as I sit here on the couch watching Friends and Sex and the City, I recognize that I don't have these open, vulnerable, sisterhood types of relationships.
I've heard from so many of my girlfriends say that I've missed out of life by not having a sister, and maybe that's the kind of thing I've been missing. I've always had an easier time getting along with men than women. I kind of have this social barrier when it comes to meeting new people and building friendships.
I thought of vulnerability as weakness and alleyways for people to sabotage you behind your back, whether it be intentional or not. Every time I got emotional and open up about something, it was about general improvement and working towards a goal, rather than just sharing for sharing purposes. Not to mention my fear of sharing and then being judged.
I always had short term "girlfriends." We'd hang out and watch movies together, go shopping and eat lunch together, but at the end of the day, we almost always kinda drifted apart. Maybe this kind of reinforced the notion of limiting vulnerability. Why open up about stuff and share the crazy thoughts that are in my head, if the person isn't going to be around for very long.
In the end I feel like this mentality was like shooting myself in the foot. By choosing not to share, no one gets close to you and are more likely to leave. So in a way my fear of people getting too close helped people keep their distance.
So for this year I've decided to change and put myself out there more. I should share more, even if it's little things like a text message or over a glass of wine. I can't be afraid of getting hurt or being overexposed. Shaking this habit is going to be rough, but I'll have to make conscious efforts to communicate more.
Ok, back to your regularly scheduled programming.
-Akemi-chan
I've heard from so many of my girlfriends say that I've missed out of life by not having a sister, and maybe that's the kind of thing I've been missing. I've always had an easier time getting along with men than women. I kind of have this social barrier when it comes to meeting new people and building friendships.
I thought of vulnerability as weakness and alleyways for people to sabotage you behind your back, whether it be intentional or not. Every time I got emotional and open up about something, it was about general improvement and working towards a goal, rather than just sharing for sharing purposes. Not to mention my fear of sharing and then being judged.
I always had short term "girlfriends." We'd hang out and watch movies together, go shopping and eat lunch together, but at the end of the day, we almost always kinda drifted apart. Maybe this kind of reinforced the notion of limiting vulnerability. Why open up about stuff and share the crazy thoughts that are in my head, if the person isn't going to be around for very long.
In the end I feel like this mentality was like shooting myself in the foot. By choosing not to share, no one gets close to you and are more likely to leave. So in a way my fear of people getting too close helped people keep their distance.
So for this year I've decided to change and put myself out there more. I should share more, even if it's little things like a text message or over a glass of wine. I can't be afraid of getting hurt or being overexposed. Shaking this habit is going to be rough, but I'll have to make conscious efforts to communicate more.
Ok, back to your regularly scheduled programming.
-Akemi-chan
Friday, January 17, 2014
Orange Soy Dipping Sauce
My Grandma was very thoughtful and sent Bryan and I some frozen pot stickers. When I say "some" it's an understatement. I'm pretty sure she shipped at least 200 of them. We're still working our way through them. But it's the perfect late night snack. We just pan fry a few and have them with a little homemade dipping sauce.
Orange Soy Dipping Sauce
3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup of orange juice
1 clove or garlic, grated
1 tsp of ginger, grated
1 tsp cane syrup (or honey if you like)
splash of sesame seed oil
zest of 1 orange (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until combined. One time I also added some chopped green onion and it was great. Use as dipping sauce or pour into pan just before pot stickers are finished cooking. Turn pot stickers in pan until well coated by dipping sauce, forming a glaze. Enjoy!
-Akemi-chan
Orange Soy Dipping Sauce
3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup of orange juice
1 clove or garlic, grated
1 tsp of ginger, grated
1 tsp cane syrup (or honey if you like)
splash of sesame seed oil
zest of 1 orange (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until combined. One time I also added some chopped green onion and it was great. Use as dipping sauce or pour into pan just before pot stickers are finished cooking. Turn pot stickers in pan until well coated by dipping sauce, forming a glaze. Enjoy!
-Akemi-chan
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Wedding Planning: Learning to Love Myself
Story time! Brace yourself, it's gonna be a boring one.
Like many women, I'm insecure about my body. No matter what state I'm in, or how many layers I'm wearing or how many pieces of cake I've refused, I still feel self-conscious.
I'm petite and I eat... hmm that should be my new slogan. Anyway, I have curves (but not in the sultry Sofia Vergara kinda way) and I enjoy tasty food and beverages. I'm top heavy with a larger bust and wide shoulders with larger arms than I'd like. Basically I perceive my body as an upside down triangle. Of course I want arms like Michelle Obama, abs like Jennifer Aniston and legs like Blake Lively, but this type of body image doesn't help anyone.
Some people might not believe it, but I was the fat kid growing up. Not that I'm thin now by any means, but people in the Midwest think that I'm about the size of a gummy bear, so they don't believe me when I say I'm the biggest female in my family, in both height and weight. All the little Asian girls with wafer thin frames and the surfer girls with their toned cores and arms gave me a sense that I was different, and I am. My cousins and brother are all athletic or thin and my Mom used to remind me she weighed 90 lbs when she graduated high school. Being 5' 2" and 135 lbs in paradise, surrounded by bikinis is not rough, but it's not a picnic either. I wouldn't consider myself big-boned or husky, but I'm not delirious enough to ignore that my ethnic counterparts are thinner than I am. However, I spent too much of my life putting myself down, telling myself that I was not good enough when it came to appearances or brains or achievements. Eventually, I found the confidence I needed in order to feel like myself in my own skin.
I could be a cliche and say that, "I found myself in college," but it's more true than not. I found friends that hung out with me because of my personality, sense of humor and life perspectives, as opposed to being the girl with a significant other and no friends. I found new friends that I felt respected me and enjoyed my company and I continued to hang out with high school friends who still kept in touch after all these years. I realized that half the battle of being comfortable with yourself is surrounding yourself with people that make you feel good about who you are.
After moving to the Midwest, I know it's harder to keep in touch with friends, but I know that I still have them. Even if we don't speak on the phone everyday or have brunch on Sundays, I know I care about them. When we see each other, no matter how many days, weeks or months it's been, it's like we picked it up our relationship like it was yesterday. Flight benefits don't hurt either.
Now, far away from everything I've ever known, I blog about food, clothes, travel and my experiences. I embrace the things that give me happiness, despite how glutenous or self-absorbed they may seem. It makes me happy thinking about my friends and family reading this blog to get a view of my life, especially since I have a hard time picking up the phone. But I welcome the idea of friends and family calling, texting and emailing me to give me insight on their lives.
I still don't love my arms, or my waistline or having a part-time job despite my Bachelor's degree, but at least I love myself enough to know that these things don't define me. I love my family for supporting me and raising me to work hard for what I want. I love my friends for having my back and helping me blow off steam. And I love Bryan for making me feel beautiful no matter if I'm dolled up for a night out or in pajamas without makeup.
Learning to love myself is not saying that I don't want to improve. Of course I want to be better, who doesn't? But luckily I found someone who accepts me for who I am and embraces the good and encourages me through the not so good. If I didn't feel this way, I wouldn't feel comfortable enough to marry him and I'm so grateful to be in this place right now. If I didn't love myself, how could I truly love another?
So thank you to all of those people who loved me despite what I achieved, who I knew, what job I had or who I loved. If it weren't for all of you, I would not have known how to love honestly. If it weren't for all of you, I would not have found happiness.
-Akemi-chan
Like many women, I'm insecure about my body. No matter what state I'm in, or how many layers I'm wearing or how many pieces of cake I've refused, I still feel self-conscious.
I'm petite and I eat... hmm that should be my new slogan. Anyway, I have curves (but not in the sultry Sofia Vergara kinda way) and I enjoy tasty food and beverages. I'm top heavy with a larger bust and wide shoulders with larger arms than I'd like. Basically I perceive my body as an upside down triangle. Of course I want arms like Michelle Obama, abs like Jennifer Aniston and legs like Blake Lively, but this type of body image doesn't help anyone.
Some people might not believe it, but I was the fat kid growing up. Not that I'm thin now by any means, but people in the Midwest think that I'm about the size of a gummy bear, so they don't believe me when I say I'm the biggest female in my family, in both height and weight. All the little Asian girls with wafer thin frames and the surfer girls with their toned cores and arms gave me a sense that I was different, and I am. My cousins and brother are all athletic or thin and my Mom used to remind me she weighed 90 lbs when she graduated high school. Being 5' 2" and 135 lbs in paradise, surrounded by bikinis is not rough, but it's not a picnic either. I wouldn't consider myself big-boned or husky, but I'm not delirious enough to ignore that my ethnic counterparts are thinner than I am. However, I spent too much of my life putting myself down, telling myself that I was not good enough when it came to appearances or brains or achievements. Eventually, I found the confidence I needed in order to feel like myself in my own skin.
I could be a cliche and say that, "I found myself in college," but it's more true than not. I found friends that hung out with me because of my personality, sense of humor and life perspectives, as opposed to being the girl with a significant other and no friends. I found new friends that I felt respected me and enjoyed my company and I continued to hang out with high school friends who still kept in touch after all these years. I realized that half the battle of being comfortable with yourself is surrounding yourself with people that make you feel good about who you are.
After moving to the Midwest, I know it's harder to keep in touch with friends, but I know that I still have them. Even if we don't speak on the phone everyday or have brunch on Sundays, I know I care about them. When we see each other, no matter how many days, weeks or months it's been, it's like we picked it up our relationship like it was yesterday. Flight benefits don't hurt either.
Now, far away from everything I've ever known, I blog about food, clothes, travel and my experiences. I embrace the things that give me happiness, despite how glutenous or self-absorbed they may seem. It makes me happy thinking about my friends and family reading this blog to get a view of my life, especially since I have a hard time picking up the phone. But I welcome the idea of friends and family calling, texting and emailing me to give me insight on their lives.
I still don't love my arms, or my waistline or having a part-time job despite my Bachelor's degree, but at least I love myself enough to know that these things don't define me. I love my family for supporting me and raising me to work hard for what I want. I love my friends for having my back and helping me blow off steam. And I love Bryan for making me feel beautiful no matter if I'm dolled up for a night out or in pajamas without makeup.
Learning to love myself is not saying that I don't want to improve. Of course I want to be better, who doesn't? But luckily I found someone who accepts me for who I am and embraces the good and encourages me through the not so good. If I didn't feel this way, I wouldn't feel comfortable enough to marry him and I'm so grateful to be in this place right now. If I didn't love myself, how could I truly love another?
So thank you to all of those people who loved me despite what I achieved, who I knew, what job I had or who I loved. If it weren't for all of you, I would not have known how to love honestly. If it weren't for all of you, I would not have found happiness.
-Akemi-chan
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